WINTON

We felt like we had stepped back in time at Winton.

Going to the Waltzing Matilda Centre and sitting by a billabong watching and singing Waltzing Matilda by Banjo Paterson was ore inspiring for us all and made us feel very nostalgic. We then walked on an old train, talked on a party line and experienced country life in an old cottage.

Stepping out of this modern center to the following adventurous afternoon kept a smile on all our faces.

Firstly came the emu running down the main street ducking and weaving, stopping any cars there were, looking very peculiar but determined to find its way back to the bush again.

Next was the Opal Factory, when asked about any of the rocks most of them were from Madagascar. This opal shop also repaired hydraulic equipment. WTF

The Theatre Museum and Opal Walk started with dunny joke paintings at the entrance (see photos), then a very minimal opal mining display leading into an outdoor theatre and skate rink. Another great combination; who has thought of this??

The Corfield and Fitzmaurice was a real blast with Tim and Melrose having to leave before giggling got out of control. It was all just a bit too quirky and freaky!!

A walk through the Northern Gregory Hotel with high tea and a lady playing a piano in the foyer, it could have been the early 1900's.

Then a bike ride to the "musical fence." This was a vibrating fence, Holden hubs, gas bottles and an outback drum kit made of old car parts which was all pretty cool and also to say very loud. We sure did make some great tunes and think we probably turned the birds off singing that day. Fun had by all.

We rode about town on our pushies and parked up on a vacant block in town and snuck a free nights accommodation in the blue beast.

LONGREACH

An iconic town and we can see why.

Arriving at the CVP after Tim decided we needed power for the weekend to ensure we can watch the football. Traveling Aus and the priorities don't seem to change!! Parking up we're welcomed by brolgas, kangaroos and emus and we then felt we were being attacked by a group of friendly noisy birds. We latter learnt they were Apostlebirds nicknamed as "squarkers" that live in families of around 8-12 these are very charismatic birds.

Lotte and Melrose thought they were in heaven as Longreach had a target - woo hoo!!!

Wanting to make the most of the next few days we decided to do a quick drive out of town to Ilfracombe to a naturally hot artesian bore and pool. Funny little town that included a "mile" of old Machinery and we had to have a look at the bottle museum (Tim with exception as he is too cool) Lotte couldn't believe there could be a whole museum on bottles. Well she was right it also included a button collection with a total of 41286 buttons. Who would have thought!!

Over the next 2 days we took in turns going to both The Stockmans Hall of Fame (TSHF) and QANTAS Museum.

TSHF was fantastic, very interactive for kids and adults with videos, voice recordings, live show by Lachie Cossor, displays of stockmen, sheep and cattle stations, rodeos, explores, kelpies and art.

The entire experience was very nostalgic. Melrose felt it pretty much related to all her life experiences from birth till now and became quite emotional. Even the farm kitchen display was almost a replica of her childhood with similar chairs, safe, cupboards etc.

The live show had amazing horsemanship, kelpies, music and humor giving us all a great laugh.

Archie's new saying from a young stockman is "what's a meal without meat?"

Lotte wants a horse even more now and feels very passionate about it.

QANTAS

Queensland and Northern Territory Airline Service.

Another well set up and interactive center. We all agreed having a go in the flight simulator was the highlight (although wouldn't want to be any of our passengers!)

Learning some history about QANTAS and how it was started by 2 men Fysh and McMaster. Their hard work, commitment and vision was revolutionary.

We were lucky enough to experience seeing inside the 747 and stand in a motor (only 2 places in the world where you can do this), obviously it was not while it was going. We were given a lot of info and it has given us some insight into the world of aviation. Wingspan 60m length 70m. Black box is not black but orange. The grey water is sent out into the air to vaporize while traveling and a lot of other technical things that we won't go into.

We had a happy hour and country entertainer Lachie Cossor play for us on Sunday afternoon at our caravan park restaurant . We had a lovely Thai meal and left overs the next day

Once again we did a lot of push biking around town and Tim also did a run into town with no top which always amuses Melrose (he is so hot). Archie and Tim spent some time watching the AFL and were devo when Richmond beat the Swans and knocked the Eagles out of the 8.

First of Sept and we drove to Emerald OMG not another FIRE. As we are driving along Tim calls out smoke and there in the electrical box it a heap of smoke. Quick thinking and a little paniic Melrose pulls the burnig cord out and throws it in the sink. wow that was another close call. Now another job for Tim to put an isolation button in for the solar power.